CODE 2, VOL 33, NO 4 : 25 january 2019

Similar to the rollout of the GWN (digital radio network) in Queensland some years ago, a digital network is currently being rolled out across Victoria for the MFB and the CFA.

In January 2019, it was identified that a lack of coverage inside many buildings and lack of coverage in certain open areas was affecting digital radio communications and therefore putting the safety of firefighters at risk.

The CFA made the obviously correct decision to best ensure the safety of firefighters and immediately reverted to the analogue network.

In acknowledging the digital failures the CFA stated –

‘CFA confirms some coverage issues… firefighters are returning to analogue radios while we investigate…’.

We applaud the CFA for now working closely with our counterparts in UFU Victoria on the problems and the fixes.

I will report more on the history of GWN in Queensland, what QFES has and hasn’t done over the past few years, and now the work of the latest ‘taskforce’ and your union’s expectations relating to GWN and radio failures and fixes in coming Code 2’s.

John Oliver - General Secretary

Authorised by John Oliver General Secretary United Firefighters' Union of Australia, Union of Employees QLD